Walmart, Sam’s Club provide $500 shopping card for necessities

WHAT: Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Walmart store #2666 Manager Jon Kent will introduce Nationwide Children’s patient Kimmi Desir on March 6 as Ohio’s champion. Kimmi will be surprised with the opportunity to use a $500 shopping card at Walmart to prepare for her trips to Orlando and Washington D.C. from March 18 through March 25.

In 2006, 13-year-old Kimmi Desir of Reynoldsburg, Ohio became the first patient at Nationwide Children’s Hospital to receive a risky bone marrow transplant that cured her sickle cell anemia. Because only non-afflicted, full siblings are suitable for transplantation, only one in five children with sickle cell will find a suitable donor. Kimmi was fortunate to receive the transplant from her sister. Since then, Kimmi has become an advocate to lawmakers for support of the children’s hospitals that save patients just like her.

WHY:Children’s Miracle Network, Walmart and Sam’s Club present an annual “Champions Across America” program. A Champion, a child with a remarkable medical story, is chosen from each state. The Champions serve as ambassadors for the 17 million children who are treated at Children’s Miracle Network hospitals each year. Kimmi will travel to Florida and to Washington, D.C., to highlight the vital work of children’s hospitals.

Children’s Miracle Network is an international non-profit organization that raises funds for more than 170 children’s hospitals. Wal-Mart's support for the Children's Miracle Network began in 1987. Since that time, Walmart and Sam’s Club associates, customers and members have raised and contributed more than $460 million for children’s hospitals.